Signalgate fallout? Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth weighs leaving DC for 2026 Governor bid in Tennessee
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After a turbulent six months as Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth may be eyeing a dramatic exit from the Pentagon and a potential leap into electoral politics, as per a report. Hegseth has privately discussed the possibility of running for governor of Tennessee in 2026, as per an Independent report.
Pete Hegseth Eyeing Tennessee's Open 2026 Governor Seat
The timing is notable. Just weeks before Hegseth publicly dismissed the Pentagon's internal "Signalgate" investigation as a 'sham,' insiders revealed that he began floating the idea of launching a gubernatorial campaign for 2026 gubernatorial run in Tennessee, as per NBC News.
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Tennessee's current Republican Governor, Bill Lee, is constitutionally prohibited from seeking a third consecutive term, which will lead to an open race in 2026, according to The Independent report.
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Defense Secretary's Political Ambitions Spark Exit Rumors
According to Defense Department rules, Hegseth would need to resign his post before formally launching a campaign, as per the report. If he does, it would mark the most significant shake-up in Pentagon leadership since US president Donald Trump removed Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Charles Brown earlier this year, according to the Independent report.
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While Hegseth has not publicly confirmed any plans, sources who claim to have spoken directly with him say the conversations went beyond casual talk, as per the report. One person told NBC News that Hegseth was 'serious' about the idea and had even discussed Tennessee's eligibility rules, reported The Independent. The state requires candidates to have lived there for seven years prior to running, while Hegseth has lived there for just three, as per the report. Another source told The Washington Post that they talked to Hegseth in the past three weeks and left the conversation convinced he was weighing his options seriously, according to The Independent.
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Mixed Reports: Is Hegseth Serious About a Political Career in Tennessee?
Still, not everyone close to the Defense Secretary agrees with these reports. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell vehemently denied the reports, calling the sources 'imaginary", and said that the news station was 'getting punked,' as reported by The Independent. He emphasised that Hegseth 'remains solely on serving under President Trump,' as quoted in the report.
Others close to Hegseth's inner circle say that he doesn't plan to launch a campaign, as reported by The Independent. One insider claimed Hegseth was 'very, very clear' that he was not going to run for political office and added that the idea was 'totally off the table,' as quoted in the Independent report.
However, this wouldn't be Hegseth's first foray into politics, in 2012, he ran for US Senate in Minnesota but withdrew after failing to gain enough support within the GOP, according to the report.
What Is Signalgate? Pentagon Leak Controversy Explained
While his latest plans for a potential 2026 gubernatorial run in Tennessee come as Hegseth has had many controversies since he was confirmed in January, including firing three senior Pentagon appointees, Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick, who he accused of leaking classified and sensitive information to the media, as reported by The Independent.
The Defense Secretary got involved in Signalgate in April after top officials mistakenly included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat, which gave him access to discussions about potential US strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen back in March, as reported by The Independent.
FAQs
Is Pete Hegseth running for governor of Tennessee?
Not officially. Reports suggest he's considering it, but there's no confirmed campaign.
Is Pete Hegseth eligible to run in Tennessee?
He's only lived there for three years. Tennessee requires seven years of residency.
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